Decorating with opposites adds texture and dimension. Whether you mix old and new, light and dark, hard and soft, you’ll find that these pairings add interest to every room.
I love opposites and just can’t resist pairing them in my home. A little of the unexpected goes a long way toward creating interest and catching your eye.
And the best part?
The possibilities for opposites are endless! Old and new, masculine and feminine, hard and soft, shiny and dull, curved and straight…the list goes on and on! If you haven’t considered decorating with opposites, you might want to reconsider…
Rustic and Elegant
One of my favorite opposites is to mix rustic and elegant, like tattered old books paired with crystal, or an old, worn industrial dress form with delicate pearls. Simply take anything that is rustic – textured, chippy, rusty, earthy, crackled – and paint it with something very elegant – crystal, silver, china, pearls, gems, etc.


Masculine and Feminine
Mixing masculine and feminine objects also creates visually interesting pairs. The furniture in my guest bedroom is black and the cabinet contains a lot of heavy, industrial items, so I’ve added white ruffle bedding and flowers to soften the look. Masculine objects tend to be things that are dark, hard, or industrial. Feminine are softer and lighter.



Complementary Colors
Colors can be fun to mix, too! I tend to decorate with mostly neutrals, so my pairings may be different than those that are color-lovers, but to me, complementary colors {colors that are opposite from one another on the color wheel} always look beautiful together!


Light and Dark
I also like the idea of mixing light and dark tones. The trestle table in my dining room was a consignment store purchase and I love how the dark stain contrasts with the lighter oak on my chairs. But any mixture of light and dark is beautiful, it doesn’t have to be just furniture. Think about how beautiful the color combination of black and white looks!


Hard and Soft
Hard and soft also creates an interesting mix. I try to add something organic to every space to help break up clean lines and hard surfaces.


When it comes to decorating, the old adage is true! Opposites DO attract!
More Decorating Tips
- How to Achieve a Timeless Interior Design Style
- Benjamin Moore Ballet White – The Perfect Neutral Whole House Color
- How to Easily Dry Hydrangeas for Beautiful Displays
- Decor Steals: Gorgeous Serena and Lily Dupes
- Interior Design Style Quiz – What’s Your Home Decorating Style?
- 8 Common Decorating Mistakes and How to Fix Them

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I think this advice is spot on. And the tip of adding an organic element to each space is great. I always hear add a plant but being an avid gardener myself, I’m not interested in trying to keep them alive inside too. But the notion of organic has a much broader range of possibilities. Thank you.
Hi Suzi! I’m so glad you liked the post! I add something organic to every space that I decorate, but it’s not usually a plant since I don’t get a lot of light in my home. I like to add preserved boxwood, feathers, faux greenery, rocks, etc. There are lots of options!
This is all so beautiful!
Thank you!
The most interesting spaces are those that surprise! I, too, love mixing old and new, rustic and contemporary. Your home should be as unique as you are! Great share!
Mixing things up keeps it interesting, doesn’t it?! :) Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!
Love, love , love that dining room! Stopping by from Savvy Southern Style.
Hi Pam – Thank you so much and thanks for stopping by from SSS! :)
Love your decorating. I am a basic earth tone person but then like to jazz it up a bit with color just depends on what I am decorating and my mood! Keep up the good work and thanks for the ideals.
Hi Mary – Thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to leave a kind comment!
Rustic and elegant are my favorite combination. Love everything you’ve done, especially the bedroom and dining room!
Hi Robin – Thank you so much!
Kim,
I do love the mix of rustic and elegant…silver and rust. I always leave your site with great ideas for my home.
xo,
Karen
Hi Karen – Oooohhh! Silver and rust is another great combination! Have a great day!